Vaccination

if the pathogen comes into contact again, the white blood cells know how to fight it

a mass of antibodies are rapidly produced to kill the pathogen

Booster injections are given to inrease levels of antibodies

Pros

Help reduce existence of infection in the UK by controling them

Epidemics are prevented when a large percentage of the population in vaccinated

this means that less people are being infected

and less people are passing it on

Cons

They don't always work- not always giving you immunity

bad reactions, such as swelling may occur (rare)

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Medicines

Painkillers relieve symptoms of disease by blocking nerve impulses from the source, getting to the brain. However they don't stop or kill the illness.

Antibiotics kill bacteria or stop their growth. However bacteria can mutate, causing bacterium to become resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria strains that cannot be treated by antibiotics can develop into serious infection. e.g MRSA

The first antibiotic was penicillin' discovered by Alexander Flemming in 1928. He had left some bacteria in a Petri dish, however it had been killed naturally by Penicillian mould. Since the discovery of penicillin, many other antibiotics have been discovered and developed.

Ignaz Semmelweis saw that women were dying after childbirth in masses, during the 1840s, from a disease called puerperal fever. He preveted the spreading of bacteria from doctors by making them wash their hands before entering his ward. The death rate reduced greatly from the use of antiseptic solution.